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FAITH NO MORE
1989 - The Real Thing.
more FAITH NO MORE.
way more Helter Skelter.

June 20, 1989 - 2024: 35 years of: The Real Thing.

The ultimate fusion-point between: alternative, funk and metal.

FAITH NO MORE had lukewarm impact with both 1985 We Care A Lot debut and 1987's Introduce Yourself LP. The neo 2.0 version came about with the arrival of eclectic hyper-active new frontman: Mr. BUNGLE's Mike Patton in early 1989. Humping the microphone with both velvet and gravel, and groove and rage ...the Patton-addition is the commercial spring-board for the San-Francisco quartet.

After the excesses of glam and thrash of the glorious 80s had taken its toll, it was time for a much needed change.

The new trend, the new sound, the fresh new hope for the upcoming decade. Still dressed like average co-ed Joes, the boys reeked coolness with their shades, skateboard flair and hiphop grin: this unit was set for world-domination. And just before Seattle's 1991 tidalwave-revamp arose, for a little while, FAITH NO MORE were the shit !

The fast-tempo "From Out Of Nowhere" kicks-in and takes no prisoners. High-octane newrock with Roddy Bottum's beautiful supporting keyboards and that captivating angry-kid voice: instant magic. "Falling Into Pieces" crushes bones with Jim Martin saccaded guitar riffing and Bill Gould's funky bass-lines, while the thrashmetal-themed "Surprise ! You're Dead !" finishes the job.

"Zombie Eaters" is 1989's "Bohemian Rhapsody", the classical guitar builds-up then explodes with distorted bass and all the elements burst into a full blown brawl: six rich progressive minutes of adventurous fun. Diametrically, the boogie-vibed "Underwater Love" is a light and lovable track that feeds the poison with a spoon.

The instru-metal "Woodpecker From Mars" is a whirlwind of sounds, slap-bass and Mike Bordin's sick drum-patterns. Hints of RUSH, PRIMUS and METALLICA all in one single cut, again, instant magic. The closing "Edge Of The World" is a posh lounge-song, yes you read that right, lounge as in: cigars & cocktails, gutsy indeed. The addition of the BLACK SABBATH classic "War Pigs" is a nice and well performed bonus.

The centerpiece of the LP remains unmatched, clocking at 4:54sec, the epic-ness and badass-ness of "Epic" is all-stars aligned freestyle-rock. The fist-pumping tribal rhythms sets the pace along Patton's rap-along vocal delivery: trend-fuckin-setting. A one-hit wonder to some, yet this track catapulted the band into lifetime MTV-rotation.

Caught between scenes, FAITH NO MORE were labeled heavy-funk or even lite-metal. Hard to rock at a hard place when fans and critics can't even properly label your brand ...but then again, maybe it was for the better, as they pleased and excelled in both scenes: they were the real alternative. RIAA-certified Platinum, FAITH NO MORE had major coverage and massive touring, but by Autumn 1991, rocknroll's eyes and ears headed North ...to the new alternative.

The Real Thing's gamechanger status remains the real deal, as it opened doors and sat the table for the eventual nümetal craze of the late 90s. Their second and last commercial hit shall ascend with 1992's Angel Dust CD ...into a grunge-infested scene.
"WHAT IS IT ?!"

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From Out Of Nowhere = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4tsGWdarHc
Epic = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG_k5CSYKhg
Falling To Pieces = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32bdevGClD4
The Real Thing = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFCbKCnspPE&list=PL8Lpw39GxwbN1r0B8kbq6S5QQvxhtNz7o
MTV interview in 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDDvxw3yKm4
MTV Awards in 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9aZWFG69-k
Live at The Brixton in 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wg_xfGg3JM&list=PL7DVQI9jNtW-8LfUmHGLLlyuKBUOGB_zb
some guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAduvswDNO8

more FAITH NO MORE:

Alternative-Metal 1992
&

Judgment Night
&

Nativity In Black